Sporting director Walter Sabatini claims Roma's strategy on the transfer market is not affected by the dramatic defeat to Porto.
The Lupi were kicked out of the Champions League after a highly disappointing performance that saw them pick up three red cards in two games.
Sporting director Walter Sabatini claims Roma's strategy on the transfer market is not affected by the dramatic defeat to Porto.
The Lupi were kicked out of the Champions League after a highly disappointing performance that saw them pick up three red cards in two games.
“Technical and tactical explanations will have been provided by the Coach,” said Sabatini after the game. “It was an extremely bitter evening, but we must start again from what the team did when down to nine players. With pride and self-sacrifice they attempted to keep the match alive.”
Among the players under scrutiny is Daniele De Rossi, who picked up the first red card of the second leg.
“I haven't spoken with Daniele, but I can provide my interpretation. He knew he was out of position and he attempted an excessive recovery of the ball.
“I'm sure he didn't want to hurt the opponent, he was just going for the ball. We are surprised, the team has been responding well for five-six months. They never failed to execute the Coach's instructions, but tonight was just an awful night.
“It was a bad evening and a depressing result. We accept that and now we must recover our energies.
“The away match was a different game. Roma showed some sublime football in the first half, and in the second they suffered but held on well.
“Tonight's game was paradoxical, after the team showed months of good, winning, sometimes spectacular football. We started off poorly, then the episodes became decisive.
“But we have already started our comeback, because once the players were down to nine men, they played with a determination that almost moved me. We must build on this attitude.”
Naturally, Sabatini was asked how this result would affect Roma's market strategy.
“Our market doesn't change, we have a strategy and that's going to stay as it is. We thought the play-offs would lead to some different choices, but we'll discuss this right away.
“On [Leandro] Paredes, we don't have to declare that a player is unsellable. And let's not talk about [Fiorentina's] Borja Valero. I don't think anything is going to change in our market, or anyway I hope so.
“My future? My only future is tonight, and I'm not going to sleep, and then the game against Cagliari after that.”